Frankincense is One of Best Essential Oils for Treating Acne and Healing the Skin

One of my favourites is frankincense. If the name frankincense sounds familiar, it’s because of the three wise men of biblical fame, who packed this along to give to baby Jesus (along with its biblical buddy myrrh, which is also an essential oil that I use).

Anyway – there’s so many essential oils to choose from… why did frankincense make the cut for my DIY moisturizer? What’s so special about it?

It’s the King of Oils

Frankincense is generally regarded as one of the most beneficial essential oils out there. It’s sort of considered a bit of a heal-all… the “King of Oils”.

Hey, if it was good enough for baby Jesus, it’s good enough for you!

When people talk about the different benefits of essential oils, they derive their alleged uses from the scientific properties of that oil. These are properties such as being anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, anti-bacterial, and so forth.

Frankincense has a lot of different properties, and therefore a lot of different all around health uses. But here are the benefits that directly relate to reducing acne and improving skin appearance:

It’s Super Anti-Inflammatory

If your acne is red and swollen, or your skin red and blotchy… then… well… that’s called inflammation! And since frankincense is powerfully anti-inflammatory, it’s going to do you a favour to prevent acne and make it go away quicker.

Another benefit is that if your acne is physically painful, it will help reduce the discomfort.

Powerful Anti-Aging Properties

Omg, it’ll, like, totally turn back time

One of the properties of frankincense is that it’s cytophylactic. This means that it promotes the skin’s regeneration of healthy cells, keeps them turning over properly, and also protects the existing cells and tissue.

This keeps your skin looking healthy and vibrant, and also prevents skin from clogging and leading to acne and whiteheads.

Frankincense is also very astringent, meaning that it tightens and tones. It tightens pores and lifts the skin, which reduces the appearance of wrinkles and lines.

Incredible Wound & Scar Healer

Other properties of frankincense are that it’s both cicatrisant and vulnerary, which basically means it helps heal wounds. This means it’s going to help acne lesions heal quickly and any resulting scabs and red marks will also be on their way out faster than normal.

I can attest that since I’ve started using my DIY moisturizer, if I do get a pimple (usually at that time of the month!) any scabs or red marks really have healed in record time. I assume this is in part due to the frankincense.

Facilitates Healthy Digestion

Heeeeeeyy! Alright!

A dysfunctional digestive system can contribute to body wide inflammation that can then show up on your skin. Frankincense has properties that stimulate stomach acid, bile, and peristaltic action.

This helps you move food through your system in a healthy way, reducing overall bodily inflammation.

Promotes Healthy Hormones

Frankincense helps regulate the healthy production of estrogen, as well as promotes a healthy, regular menstruation cycle.

This is not only good news for reducing PMS symptoms, but also combatting that most annoying menstrual symptom of all….. hormonal breakouts!

Relieves Stress and Anxiety

After using it for the skin directly, this is my second favourite use for frankincense.

Frankincense is very good for reducing stress, anxiety, and creating a feeling of peace and relaxation. Smelling it can promote deep breathing and a sedative effect which helps you sleep.

We all know that stress is a huge culprit in breakouts, so this has direct skin benefit. I mean, it’s no cure for all your worries, but it’s certainly nice.

I like to put a few drops of it with some other “bedtime” oils (like lavender, ylang ylang, and chamomile) in my diffuser before going to sleep.

Before I had a diffuser, I just put a drop or two on a paper towel and stuck it near my pillow.

The Practicalities of How to Use It

Frankincense can be applied topically or inhaled. It can also be taken internally if you get a food grade one like from Doterra.

Remember that essential oils are very powerful! They need to be properly diluted when applied topically (and used internally).

Please read my article about how to use essential oils with instructions on dilution. Frankincense is actually one of the ones that can be used on skin directly without dilution, but I don’t really recommend it.

For skin benefit, you want to put a few drops in whatever you are using to moisturize with – preferably an oil or a DIY moisturizer! Try not to make it so that the frankincense makes up more than 2% of the total concoction.

Also read my essential oils article for advice on which brands are good (Aura Cacia, or Doterra if you have money burning a hole in your pocket), and other important info for using them correctly so you get the most skin benefit.

Contraindications

Frankincense doesn’t have any reported side effects, although it is apparently toxic in high doses and concentrations. So that’s a good reason to dilute it.

It’s also not recommended for pregnancy, because it does have a toning effect on the uterus.

And finally… always be really careful and do your research before using essential oils on kids or pets.

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Comments

I do dabble with essential oils, and love them, but have not tried frankincense. Now I think I’m going to have to incorporate it. Currently I’m loving lavender, rosemary and lemon. Most days when I get out of the shower I’ll take a big blob of coconut oil to moisturize my body. I’ll put one drop of whatever oil I’m “feeling” that day, mix it in with the coconut oil, and rub all over. Then I put on a big fluffy robe while it soaks in.

I’ve been using Frankincense mixed with Argan oil every night before going to bed for about a month now and the results have been pretty incredible. Before, I had been on the Caveman regimen for a few years and my skin was pretty much clear but it was dull, and I was beginning to see signs of aging plus I still had many old pitted acne scars. Now I see a huge difference in my skin. I have a lovely glow to my face, my fine lines are less noticeable, and my scars are fading/smoothing out. I took a selfie the other day, (note: I hadn’t taken a selfie in ages) and I was shocked by how good my skin looked in such a short period of time!

I use Frankincense Sacred from Rocky Mountain Oils company. The price scared me but I gave in and got it, and I’m so glad I did. The quality is fantastic! My Argan oil is from Rose Mountain herbs and I like it too. Now I would like to add another oil . Would Lavender be the best choice? I’ve also read that Carrot Seed oil can be used as a natural sunblock; Do you know anything about that? Thanks!

Awesome! Yes I pretty much felt the same way. Caveman was fine acne wise, but skin could just look a little… livelier. And yes, I also found rapid improvement after starting my DIY moisturizer which includes the frankincense. As for which oil next… I’m not sure. I can’t really say which one is the best! I usually say lavender and frankincense are good ones to start with. In my DIY moisturizer, I’ve settled on frankincense, myrrh, lavender, and helichrysum. I’ve read about carrot seed oil and I think the supposed sunscreen benefits are overhyped, at least that’s what I gathered.

Just to share with you… I’m just like you, wanted to try carrot seed essential oil after reading so much about its benefits for aging skin (I’m 42) and how much this EO had been underrated…

I eventually bought mine from Aura Cacia few months ago from iherb. I liked how it made my face looked so toned and healthy. However after two to three weeks of using it nightly, I started to have breakouts… not really very bad but I could tell it might be clogging my pores. I started to google the comedogenic rating of carrot seed essential oil. I found out that it has a comedogenic rating of 3. It may be the reason it breaks my out. I have since stopped using it.

Nevertheless I still think it’s a great EO, I may try it out again soon. Give it a try, it works differently on different people. My hubby has no problem like what I had at all.

Good luck!

(I just placed my order for frankincense EO from Aura Cacia from iherb, wish me luck. I hope it works as well as all the reviews I’ve read so far. I could not find the comedogenic rating of frankincense though)

Disclaimer

I'm not a health care professional. All the information found on this website should be used for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace proper medical advice. Always consult a qualified health care provider before embarking on a health or supplement plan.